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Topic: how do you guys make money? (Read 11364 times)

I am still new to appliance repair. The calls have been few and far between however I got a call today on a gas stove (Whirlpool SF3000ww1)I found the gas safety valve to be defective. The supply house found one in another state which means adding S&H. I qoute them retail 91.00 plus my time and S&H WHich comes to about $175.00. Then I was told that they could buy a used one cheaper.

This is the third time this has happened to me what am I diong wrong? how do guys make money?

Charge a higher service call rate, you should make at least a little profit if they decide not to repair. Sell harder, $175 is not a bad price. You're not just selling the repair, you're also selling convenience. If they buy the used stove, they'll have to either haul it themselves or pay someone to do it. Can they hook up the gas and not have it leak? And then, they will have to figure out what to do with their old stove.

Making a living in appliance repair is getting more difficult everyday. There was a news story on msnbc yesterday about 5 thriving and 5 dying industries. Guess which industry was at the top of the list for not thriving. I can certainly understand why, it is almost cheaper to buy a new piece of junk, than is to have the better old one repaired. Look at the age of most of the techs on this board, most of us are in our 50's & 60's and if the young guys can't start out at $60-$70k they ain't workin. . Don't know about the rest of you guys but, I'm tired. I don't really want to go to anymore schools to start all over again with the new concepts. Parts & shipping are out of sight, can't afford to order just one part at a time, shipping is sometimes more than the cost of the part. Maybe it's time to retire, again!

The IBIS report *does* make a prediction that once the economy begins to improve (and it will eventually)---there will be an uptick in new appliance purchases---and a decline in service.Three to five years after this---a surge in repairs will be seen---to repair these "new" appliances.The trending towards more up-scale and digital-technology is forecast to remain unchanged.(Younger consumers do not want el-cheapo appliances).